Edward Gillespie wins Virginia's GOP primary for governor

Edward Gillespie (L), the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, won the state's GOP primary for governor on Tuesday, the Virginia Department of Elections said. Photo courtesy Edward Gillespie

June 14 (UPI) -- Edward Gillespie, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, won Virginia's GOP primary for governor, the state's Department of Elections has confirmed.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting in the election on Tuesday, the elections agency said Gillespie received 160,039 votes, or 43.71 percent of votes, while his main competitor, Corey A. Stewart, the former co-chairman of Donald Trump's campaign in Virginia, received 155,716 votes, or 42.53 percent of votes.

"Thank you for your support and making tonight's victory possible!" Gillespie wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

Virginia State Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel won the Republican primary to serve as lieutenant governor.

Gillespie will run against Democrat Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, who won his primary with 55.9 percent of the vote against opponent Tom Perriello, in the Nov. 7 general election, which will also include Libertarian candidate Cliff Hyra.